Mesa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

As the American population ages, more families must make the difficult choice to place their elderly loved ones into nursing homes and assisted living facilities. With the rise in the elderly population also has come an increased likelihood that these individuals suffer abuse and neglect by those who are supposed to care for them. A Mesa nursing home abuse lawyer can assist families when unthinkable incidents of abuse or neglect occur in nursing facilities.

If an older family member has fallen victim to abuse or neglect while living in a nursing home or other care facility, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. A compassionate personal injury lawyer may be able to investigate the situation that led to abuse or neglect to your loved one and gather the evidence necessary to support a claim for damages against all potentially liable parties.

Types of Elder Abuse in Mesa Care Institutions

Elder abuse and neglect can take many forms when it occurs in the context of a nursing home or assisted living facility. Overcrowded and understaffed facilities, which is often the norm, can result in significant neglect of patients, which, in turn, can lead to their injuries. Some types of neglect may include:

Failing to provide adequate nutrition and fluids, which can lead to malnutrition and dehydration

Deliberate overmedication and unnecessary use of restraints

Failing to provide clothing and bedding changes, or move patients into different positions to avoid bedsores

Allowing patients to be unsupervised, which enables them to wander away or fall when attempting to walk

Other forms of abuse may include physical abuse by staff members and care providers, emotional or verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and financial exploitation. All these types of abuse have the potential to cause severe harm to individuals. In this situation, a nursing home abuse lawyer in Mesa may be able to help.

Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse

One of the best ways to prevent nursing home abuse is for family members and friends to closely monitor their loved ones who are living in these facilities. Any sudden changes in personality, cleanliness, personal hygiene, or appetite could be signs of abuse or neglect. Likewise, apparent weight loss, unexplained injuries, bed sores, welts, and rashes all could signal that an older adult is suffering from some form of abuse or neglect.

Likewise, listening to loved ones can be instrumental in determining whether abuse or neglect has occurred. If elderly persons are evasive about the origin of their injuries, or if they accuse multiple people of harming them or stealing from them, further investigation may be warranted. In some cases, staff members brush off complaints by elderly persons as inaccurate, but these individuals really could be trying to report genuine abuse and neglect.

Damages in Nursing Home Abuse Claims

Various damages may be available to nursing home residents who have suffered abuse and neglect at their facilities. The extent and type of damages that these individuals are entitled to recover depend on the injuries to the nursing home resident. Some potential items of compensation may include:

Medical expenses to treat injuries

Pain, suffering and emotional trauma

Worsening of existing medical conditions

In the worst cases, such as when intentional misconduct leads to the death of elderly persons, the court may also award punitive damages. These damages are designed to “punish” parties and deter them from engaging in similar misconduct in the future. With the help of a nursing home abuse attorney in Mesa, individuals may be able to hold nursing facility owners, administrators, and staff members accountable for their wrongdoing.

Contact a Mesa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

Every nursing home abuse claim is unique and involves specific circumstances that may impact the outcome of the claim. As a result, consulting a Mesa nursing home abuse lawyer may be highly beneficial to you and your family members.

Legal counsel can thoroughly investigate your case and work toward obtaining damages for your injuries and other losses. With a strong legal advocate on your side, you may place yourself and your family in a better position to right the wrongs that have occurred.